Lasse Virén, who himself did blue-and-white endurance running feats at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, considers Topi Raita to be a great role model. Virén followed Raitanen’s golden run on the spot in Munich.
15:14•Updated 15:37
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– Others tried. Raitanen ran.
I saw the European Championships in Munich on the spot, following Lasse Virén crystallize Raitanen’s top winning run in the 3,000-meter hurdles European Championship final.
Virén, if anyone knows what it feels like to win a gold medal as a Finnish endurance runner at the legendary Olympic Stadium in Munich. Virén, who won two memorable Olympic gold medals at the 1972 Olympics, followed Raitanen’s race closely.
Moments after the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final, we saw Finnish sports romance at its best. The champions met.
– There was nothing else to say about it but praise. The boys from Italy were also next to it. Topi said that this time it was her turn.
For the Italian boys, Virén meant those who finished in silver and bronze Ahmed Abdelwahedia mixed Osama Zoghlam. The four-time Olympic champion’s view of Raitase does not bode well for the Italians’ dreams of winning in the coming years.
– I said that as long as Topi runs, the Italian boys have no place, Virén tells Urheilu.
Virén was also watching the award ceremony and the Maamme song.
– We talked a little before the award ceremony. When Topi left the award ceremony and went to the doping test, we talked a bit.
Raitanen is a guy already known to Virén.
– When my own son used to run, they used to run together a bit. That’s how I got to know him more.
You can’t do it with a hobby
Raitanen’s run was controlled from start to finish. Virén also noted it.
– It was a convincing run. Always knew what he was doing. At the last moment, he took over the reins entirely. When the final back straight started, the others had nothing to say.
In Raitase, Virén is especially convinced by his determined attitude. Did the gold rush in Virén bring back old memories?
– The old runs are so far away. When you do that kind of running yourself, you end up remembering very little of it, says Virén.
During this millennium, Finnish endurance running has been seen to be in crisis many times. However, there has always been a single hero runner who silences the critics with his incredible race run.
In 2002 it was a marathoner Janne Holmen. Four years later in Gothenburg Jukka Keskisalo did it in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. Now it was Raitanen’s turn to point out the doubters.
Virén reminds us that there have been bad years before.
– Group Kuha restored faith in Finnish endurance running in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Then again Martti Vainio and partners have been good examples for others.
– I believe that this championship is of great importance for the future. You can’t get by with hobbies, but if you work properly, you can get by.
A great role model
Raitase has already become the new trendsetter of Finnish endurance running several years ago. He has often brought up the hope of how to get children and young people excited about endurance running.
Virén hopes that Raitanen’s championship will bring a new spark to Finnish endurance running.
– He is one of the best role models. He’s a smart guy anyway, who knows how to act outside of competitions and after the games. He always considers his words properly.
Raitanen is excellent for an endurance runner at the age of 26. There are still many good years left. Europe has now been conquered, but Virén reminds us that African runners at the World Cup and Olympic level make the situation more challenging.
– I hope Topi hits a wedge in between. The runs are different, Viren reminds.